n England, to go to Ryde and bring him back with me.

"`I am indeed most grateful,' she answered. `I must not leave my poor
father, or I would go myself to see my son, for that he is my boy I have
not a doubt on my mind.'

"Just as I was about to leave the room, my eye fell on a small portrait
of a lady hanging against the wall, and it occurred to me that it might
be that of Miss Stafford. I asked the question. Mrs Stafford said it
was; and I proposed taking it with me to know whether you and your wife
could recognise it, and perhaps others might be found who may have seen
her on board the _Royal George_ to do so likewise.

"She at once took down the portrait, which with that of her son she
carefully packed up and entrusted to my care. After again cautioning
her against Mr Biddulph Stafford, I wished her good-bye, and returned
with the information I had gained to my worthy brother-in-law, who, on
hearing it, said that he was convinced in his own mind that Harry Saint
George was the son of Henry Stafford, and that he would undertake his
case, though he advised me to caution you and him not to be too sanguine
about gaining it; at the same time you might be sure that Mrs Stafford
would acknowledge him, and that he would thus, which he would probably
value more than fortune, be able in the eyes of his friends to establish
his right to bear his father's name.

"Mr Pengelley hopes that you will on no account let anyone learn the
history I have now given you till everything is prepared. Should
Biddulph Stafford bear that young Harry is discovered, he will stir
heaven and earth to prevent him from establishing his rights. I might,
as I before said, by threatening to expose the crime of his early days,
gain a power over him; but as it occurred so long ago, he might feel
himself safe and set me at defiance. At all events be cautious, and let
no one but Harry and your wife, who, from what I saw of her, is, I
should judge, a discreet woman, know anything of the matter."

This letter, as may be supposed, threw Susan and me into a great state
of agitation. We could talk of nothing else, and kept looking out every
moment for Jerry's arrival; we could not help grieving that Harry was
not at home, for we could take no steps without him. We were sorry,
too, that we could not consult with Captain Leslie, as Jerry had
forbidden us to speak to anyone on the subject. He, I was sure, could
be trusted, though he had been so much